Month: April 2006

It’s nice to know that I am not the only foreigner studing Haidong Gumdo

http://nicoleinkorea.blogspot.com/2006/01/my-second-gumdo-test-cause-first-one.html

I have spent much of this weekend playing with WordPress. WordPress is the blog software that powers what you are reading now.
They have just introduced some new features which makes it easier for non programers. I have been using these new widgets and they are a lot of fun.
It really cuts down on having to edit PHP files.
So good job, WordPress

Have also been doing some research on pingbacks and tracebacks. I am not sure yet if it is working properly on my blog. By all accounts it should. I found a very help article on the subject at http://www.optiniche.com/blog/117/wordpress-trackback-tutorial/

Test traceback to pesonal weblog

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE FULL SIZED PHOTO

Click here for more Haidong Gumdo photos

SLIDESHOW: click here for a slideshow of Haidong Gumdo photos

Obviously Korea, Americia and Australia have a slightly different view about weapons.
Korea I believe is the strictest. The only weaons I have seen are shotguns which are used for hunting.
In Australia the law differs in each state. But after a particulary horrific shooting spree in the mid 90’s a lot of guns were banned.

Read more

Over at Sperwerslog log, lots of stuff you can’t do in Australia.
Half of me loves the video, the other half is thinking “what the f…. ?”

http://www.sperwerslog.com/index.php/sperwerslog/why_do_you_need_a_silencer/
http://www.sperwerslog.com/index.php/sperwerslog/the_last_samurai/
http://www.sperwerslog.com/index.php/sperwerslog/brass_on_the_deck/
http://www.sperwerslog.com/index.php/sperwerslog/oh_hell_cant_leave_this_one_out_anger_management_with_gunny/
http://www.sperwerslog.com/index.php/sperwerslog/and_finally_girl_saturday/

Next week all my students are off on school trips to various parts of Korea.
They will be away Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Unfortunally I will not be going with them. No holiday for me, I still have to turn up at school and prepare lesson plans. I actually get more work done at home but I still have to come to school even if there are no students.
I am not complaining (well, not much) because the people I work with at my school are great. This is the third school I have worked at in Ulsan and they have all been wonderful.
Compared to other Boards of Education in Korea, Ulsan is reallly good to work for.
Good news for Thursday, it is a holiday for the school. So I don’t have to turn up.?Ǭ† If the weather is good I shall go for a ride on my bicycle to see my old Haidong Gumdo instructor.
There is a great Mountain bike downhill section on the way back from his dojang. It is down a heavily forested steep hill?Ǭ† with the occassional hiker to dodge.

Went to the doctors today to get a medical checkup.
Unfortunally I got a young doctor instead of the older Korean Americian I am used to.
So I will have to go back tomorrow because the younger doctor was sure about somethings.
I also got some X-Rays done on my right knee which is giving me some trouble.
It appears I have Chondromala of Paella. Fortunally for me this is not a serious condition.
I need to lose weight and strengthen the thigh muscles.

This time last year I was doing a grading for Haidong Gumdo.
Once you reach black belt level this is the sort of thing you are expected to do.

Late March is the time of year for Cherry Blossoms in Korea. Last year I went to Bulgooksa Temple where there are hundreds of beatiful trees. This year you will have to be content with a view of one tree from my classroom window.

The local copshop (police station for you non Australians)